Malaysia developing sovereign AI cloud to safeguard classified data
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the ministry and MCMC would manage the initiative to protect sensitive government information.
Malaysia is implementing a sovereign artificial intelligence cloud intended to keep classified government data secure and outside the scope of foreign legislation and policies, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said.
Speaking on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme, Fahmi said public cloud storage could expose sensitive material, including official documents, to risks arising from other countries’ rules. He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously raised the initiative, which would be overseen by the Communications Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Fahmi also stressed the need for Internet services that are faster, more affordable, secure and more widely available. He said Malaysia’s digital economy was estimated to account for more than 25.5 per cent of gross domestic product.
The first phase of the National Digital Network (Jendela) initiative had narrowed the urban-rural connectivity gap, he said, but users could still lose coverage after leaving village areas. Budget 2027 allocates RM5 billion to Jendela for better-quality Internet coverage, with a focus on rural and remote locations.
He said better connectivity would support online sellers, students learning digitally and people using government services. He added that 5G could help agriculture operate more efficiently through robotics and the Internet of Things.
